Removing Sweated Pipes

my fiance and i are trying to change out the shower handle. we could not for anything get the nuts to unscrew so we could take out the old manifold and put in the new one. we are now pretty sure the the pipes have been sweated in to the old shower set handle. my question is, does anyone know what to do to get the old one out and still make the pipes usable for the new hardware? we are worried about sawing into the old stuff (which i think the home depot guy told us to do) and ruining it so the new ones cant screw in. HELP!?!?!

Cut the pipe a few inches away from the shower connection. Then get a coupling to put the pipe back together.

If you can get all of the water out, you could probably unsolder it at the valve. However, I prefer cutting to help get it back together.

If you solder 6 to 10 inches of pipe to the adapter fittings before you screw them into the control valve, it is easier to make the joint and you avoid risk of damaging the valve. If you have already cut the pipe. you have the place for the connection away from the valve.

A tubing cutter is better than a hacksaw because it keeps the pipe round and smooth.